Saudi Arabia

middle east · desert · oil · islam

Huge desert kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the fifth-largest country in Asia and covers most of the Arabian Peninsula, with about 2.15 million square kilometers of land. It's shaped like a massive rectangle wedged between the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Holy Islamic cities. Mecca and Medina, two of the most sacred places in Islam, are located in Saudi Arabia. Muslims from around the world travel there for pilgrimage each year.

Two coasts at once. Saudi Arabia is the only country that has a coastline on both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, which gives it special importance for shipping and trade.

Mostly desert terrain. The landscape is dominated by arid deserts, rocky mountains, and dry steppes, with very little green vegetation or water. Cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina are built in this challenging desert environment.

Over 33 million people. Saudi Arabia is home to more than 33 million people, making it the sixth most populous country in the Arab world despite its huge deserts.